World Cup 2014: Cameroon Loses Player, Then Chance at 2nd Round

Mario Mandzukic scored two goals Wednesday to help keep Croatia in the mix at the World Cup with a 4-0 win in Manaus, Brazil, over Cameroon, which will be going home after the group stage.

Mandzukic, who returned to the team at the Arena da Amazônia after sitting out Croatia’s opening loss to Brazil because of a suspension, headed in a corner from Danijel Pranjic in the 61st minute and knocked in a rebound in the 73rd.

Ivan Perisic also scored a goal and set up another for Ivica Olic as Croatia earned 3 crucial points in Group A.

Cameroon was reduced to 10 men after midfielder Alex Song was given a red card for elbowing Mandzukic in the back in an off-the-ball incident in the 40th minute. Cameroon played without the injured Samuel Eto’o, its best player.

And the frustration within the team boiled over in stoppage time when Benoît Assou-Ekotto head-butted his teammate Benjamin Moukandjo in front of their goal.

“It’s unimaginable,” Cameroon Coach Volker Finke said. “I saw this happen, and I need to find out exactly what happened, why exactly these two players exploded. I really hate to see that. It’s not the image of Cameroon I want to project.”

Croatia, a 1998 semifinalist, now has its future in its own hands. If Croatia beats Mexico on Monday, it will clinch a spot in the second round. The Mexicans would advance with only a draw.

Cameroon is out, however, and can only play spoiler in its final match, against the five-time champion Brazil, also on Monday.

If Cameroon wins, Brazil could still advance or be forced out of the tournament on goal difference.

Darijo Srna started the move for the first goal, whipping a cross into the penalty area from the right side in the 11th minute. Mandzukic and Nicolas N’Koulou then collided while going for it, but the ball popped loose to Perisic, who coolly slid the ball into the path of Olic for a tap-in.

Perisic did it all himself early in the second half, intercepting a pass from Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje to Dany Nounkeu and taking it all the way back to the goal.

Perisic, with Nounkeu chasing him, ran into the area down the left and gave himself a tough angle before slipping his shot between Itandje and the near post in the 48th minute.

Mandzukic was left unmarked to head home Croatia’s third goal and followed up with a simple tap-in when Itandje spilled a shot from Eduardo.

Cameroon knew it needed points against Croatia, and the Indomitable Lions came out fast in an effort to take the early lead. Cameroon had several dangerous attacks down the right flank, but none of them materialized into any real opportunities.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s knee was iced at the end of Portugal’s training. A teammate said he was fit to play Sunday against the United States.CreditMauro Horita/Reuters

RONALDO EXPECTED TO PLAY Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is fully fit to play against the United States in a crucial Group G match at the World Cup, a teammate said.

Ronaldo, the defending world player of the year, needed an ice pack for his troublesome left knee during Wednesday’s training session, once again raising concerns about his fitness.

But the backup goalkeeper Beto said Ronaldo would be ready for Sunday’s game against the United States in the Amazon rain forest capital of Manaus.

“Cristiano is 100 percent fit to play,” Beto said. “Every match, if he starts to play, it is because he is fit to play, he’s ready to play. He loves football, but his body is the most important thing for him. “

Before Portugal’s 4-0 loss to Germany on Monday, Ronaldo was doubtful to play but started and produced a subdued performance.

Ronaldo has been hampered by tendinitis and a muscle injury since before the tournament.

Though his knee had been bandaged in previous training sessions, Ronaldo started without one Wednesday. After some light work with the rest of the first team, he had the knee ice-packed.

Beto said Portugal’s players were confident of a win in Manaus, which the Portuguese need after a 4-0 defeat against Germany.

“The best version of Portugal can beat United States,” he said. “We respect the United States of America. It is a very good team. They grew up the last years, and so we got to respect them. But we believe in ourselves.”

A version of this article appears in print on , Section B, Page 16 of the New York edition with the headline: Cameroon Loses Player, Then Chance at 2nd Round. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe